Tiarnán Malone is one of the best warriors of the Guardians.
Sent to meet a woman to pick something up for his mentor, he
saves the woman who is to be his mate. And his artifact.
Circumstances throw them together, but while he knows they
are meant to be, she isn’t as easily convinced.

Calida Michaels can’t complain about how her new savoir and
companion looks. However, she’s not so quick to buy this
‘mates forever’ talk, especially when there’s another woman
who takes precedence over her, time and time again.

Despite all that’s going on around her and her feelings for
him, Calida eventually leaves, unable to withstand the pain.
Will Tiarnán reach her in time or will she be gone forever,
relegating him to a world completely driven by night?

Tiarnán Malone sniffed, wiped his hand under his nose, and
shifted only to still as his advocate leveled a glare at him. He
scowled up at the judge who matched him glower for glower.
“Not pleased to see you back in my courtroom again, Mr. Malone.”
The judge rested his arms on the smooth wood and leaned forward.
“I believe last time we agreed you wouldn’t be back here.”
He altered his weight, fearlessly holding the man’s assessing
and disappointed look. Like I want to be here standing before
you. Get real, dude. “I’ll leave.”
The judge frowned and readjusted his glasses. “Not quite yet,
son.” He glanced at the sheets before him. “More stealing.” A
pointed look. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
His attorney nudged him. “Answer His Honor.”
“Ain’t got nothin’ to say. He’s gonna believe what the others
tell him anyways. Why speak?”
He shoved his hands in his pockets only to rock back on his
heels. Peering over one shoulder, he swept the courtroom with a
disinterested gaze, pausing when his stare landed upon a
rail-thin black girl sitting in one of the rows behind him.
Tears streaked down her face but the fear in her expression was
what truly set him on edge. He didn’t like it. Before he
could—even had he wanted to, which he wasn’t sure he did—offer a
smile of encouragement, she averted her face and stared down
toward her feet.
Tiarnán remembered his first time before a judge. Tears had
threatened him then. Now, whatever. He’d stood here so often it
was almost becoming a second home. Adults believed other adults,
not children. He was considered a troublemaker. Thug.
Delinquent. And other words along those lines.
At the nudge from the man by his side, he faced forward with a
low snarl. He truly hated being pushed around. A hollow thunk
trailed by a light, tinkling sound overshadowed all other noise.
Including the judge’s booming voice.What was that? Am I hearing things? No one else seems to have
heard it for the judge never stopped talking.
“Pay attention!” Harper, his attorney, snapped under his breath.
“Did you hear that?”
“That’s my point. You need to listen to the judge.”So not what I meant, dude.
It came again. And a third time, which had him looking around
the room. To see where it had come from and if anyone else had
heard it. That black girl stared over her shoulder at something
and he moved along her line of sight.
He located a man seated on the bench closest to the door. Asian.
Dressed impeccably. His black suit screamed wealth and the man
appeared to be looking between him and the girl. Then he stared
directly at him, lean fingers resting upon a cane between his
legs. The hairs on the back of Tiarnán’s neck stood up.
The man’s gaze remained steadfast before he lifted then set his
cane down. Again the hollow sound followed by the chiming.
Tiarnán felt weird and wanted to take a seat.
“Am I boring you, Mr. Malone?”
The judge’s tone rang loud with admonishment.
He ignored the muttering from his attorney and slowly, as if he
had all the time in the world, faced the front. Along the way,
he winked at the girl who, it seemed, had been the only other
person who’d heard what he had.
“Yes.”
The judge apparently hadn’t expected him to respond thusly. Nor
did he approve. Thick, graying eyebrows rose minutely then
converged.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?”
Tiarnán shrugged. “I answered your question.” He tossed his head
to move his hair, which had fallen forward over his eyes.
“You’re boring me.”
Laughter and chuckles burst sporadically throughout the
courtroom from the younger children in occupancy. He knew this
sentence handed down would be more severe than the previous
ones. The faint laughter echoed in his mind and he turned in
time to see the older gentleman leaving the room, the door
swinging shut after him.Prob comes in to get his rocks off on watching children get
into trouble. Whatever. He didn’t care. Adults couldn’t be
trusted.

* * * *

Fourteen years
later

“I’m sorry, you want
me to do what?” Tiarnán stared at Lian Yang from where he
stood in the back of the room, arms crossed as he leaned against
the wall.
“I did not slur my words, Tiarnán. Nor did I stutter. You heard
me just fine.”
Lian sat ramrod straight at his large desk, in typical fashion.
Tiarnán didn’t believe the man had it in him to slouch. The dark
wood, lined with intricate scroll work, had a surface so shiny
he could see his reflection in it. A lot of time and energy went
into keeping it in such shape.I should know, I spent enough hours doing it. He sighed
and shook his head, focusing again on the man who’d taken him in
and not only given a roof over his head, but a home. And a
family.
Lian didn’t look any older than when he’d brought Tiarnán here.
Neither did those eyes miss anything, though years had gone by.
“Come sit.”
Tiarnán didn’t ignore the summons. Yes, he was grown, but this
man was as close to a father as he would ever have, and he
respected the hell out of him. Passing one of the large windows,
he stared out over the Oregon vineyard. It bustled with life
even this early in the morning. The mist still hovered above the
ground, adding a mystical quality to the view. He enjoyed this
time of day, normally was out walking with the one closest to
him here, Dracen.
Lian took in kids and raised them. Some troubled, others not. He
helped them find their way. Taught them how to respect
themselves and others, as well as assisting them in finding what
it was they did best. He encouraged them to pursue their dreams.
But he also demanded a lot from them. It helped to know he
expected as much from himself in helping each child as he
expected from them.
Seated in the leather chair, Tiarnán waited for Lian to speak
again. This man just couldn’t be rushed. He wanted to push and
pry but he forced himself to remain silent.
“Why do you insist on making things harder than they need to
be?”
“How is my asking a question doing such things?” Tiarnán
countered. At Lian’s expression he sighed. “What do I need to
do?”
“Off to the east you must travel. Until you reach the place
where the twin falls pour into the lake of crystal.”
“A riddle. You’re giving this to me in a riddle?”
“Combined with what I told you before, Tiarnán, you have all the
clues needed. When you get there, find Mrs. Chen. She will have
something to give you for me.”
He wanted to argue so much but merely nodded and stood. “Very
well. Heed me well, old man. One day, these riddles will not
turn out the way you want.”
A sad smile crossed his face. “Sometimes they are all we have
left.” He lost all expression. “You will not be the only one
after this item, Tiarnán. Be alert, and cautious of who you
trust.” Lian waved his hand. “Leave me. Say goodbye before you
embark on your journey.”